Retirement party for Rosemary

ROSEMARY Gaffney, a college lecturer from Teagasc, Kildalton College in Piltown, Co Kilkenny, has officially retired after 25 years of service.

In a social media post, she said: “It has been a wonderful journey and I have had many good days, made huge friendships, both equine and human. With lots of fun along the way.”

To celebrate Rosemary’s retirement, there was a party at Kildalton, with her family, friends, colleagues and past students in attendance.

Rosemary said that she “was amazed at the students that turned up from my first year - we kept telling each other that we hadn’t aged a bit!”

Very best wishes to Rosemary for a long and happy retirement!

Irish success at Lier

AT the Two-star, One-star and Young Horse show at Lier last week, Wicklow’s Mark Finnerty made a great start for Ireland when taking first place in Thursday’s Young Horse Five- and Six-year-old 1.10m/ 1.20m class with Nacho Libre; Mayo’s Graham Grant on Miss Jet Set D.B. placed eighth in the same class.

Thomas Ryan and Jakarta placed ninth in the two-star 1.35m two-phase class, out of 78 starters.

Grant then placed sixth in Friday’s Young Horse Five- and Six-year-old 1.10m/ 1.20m class with Miss Jet Set DB and followed up with an eighth place in the one-star 1.20m two-phase special riding Kacharel DB.

Saturday saw Grant ride Miss Jet Set DB into third place in the Young Horse Five- and Six-year-old 1.15m/ 1.25m Two-phase class.

To conclude the show on Sunday, Ryan on Connoisseur PWR placed sixth in the two-star 1.45m Grand Prix.

Cascais dressage win

IRELAND’S Susan Smallman rode Gloriant H to win the Prix St Georges at Cascais in Portugal on Saturday. The pair followed this up with another win on Sunday in the Intermediate I class.

Reminder to breeders with foreign mares

HSI would like to remind breeders that, as for 2023, anyone with a foreign mare who they wish to campaign in the Studbook Series, must have her inspected by any DAFM-approved studbook and obtain the relevant classification. In 2024, all mares who wish to apply for the Premium Mare Retention Scheme or the Schooling Scheme II, must have completed a mare selection in any DAFM approved studbook. Selections are subject to funding and the minimum eligibility requirement.